The ultimate spring bucket list

Spring brings some rather substantial visitors to the region’s coastline. And, we have it on good authority, that watching a whale surface has a way of leaving an entire boatload of people in awe.

Head out with Naturaliste Charters or All Sea Charters for a closer look at the migration. Whale Watch Western Australia also offers whale watching experiences; check its departure locations when planning your trip.

Bring a jacket. Ocean breezes are largely uninterested in your optimistic wardrobe choices.

A visit to Wadandi Boodja is an opportunity to learn about the Country you’re travelling through.

With Koomal Dreaming, Wadandi custodian Josh “Koomal” Whiteland shares his knowledge of native foods, bush medicine and local culture, introducing visitors to the landscape through a Traditional Owner’s eyes.

Depending on the experience you choose, your tour may include traditional fire lighting, storytelling or Josh’s didgeridoo playing inside Ngilgi Cave.

Allow time for this one. The beaches and cellar doors will still be there afterwards.

For another perspective on the region’s history, visit Ellensbrook at Mokidup and explore the homestead and its connections with the Wadandi people.

Your camera roll may already contain several hundred beach photos. Spring provides a good argument for adding a few more.

Birdlife, wildflowers and changing coastal light give keen photographers plenty to work with. Join Hank at Margaret River Exposed for nature exploring with photography tips along the way, or ask the Cape to Cape Explorer Tours team about a guided walk with time to enjoy the scenery.

The trick is remembering to look up from the screen occasionally.

Wildflower spotting has a habit of turning a perfectly reasonable walk into a very slow one. There are orchids to examine, tiny flowers to photograph and occasional debates about whether you’re both looking at the same plant.

You don’t need to know every botanical name to enjoy yourself. Just keep to the paths and leave the flowers where you find them. They’re doing quite well there.

If you would like some help exploring; Hank from Margaret River Exposed, Gene and the Cape to Cape Explorer Tour team or Sean from Margaret River Discovery Co are all experts when it comes to tracking down an elusive orchid and telling weeds from wildflowers.

For a stay with flowers on the doorstep, Jarrah Grove Forest Retreat has private tracks through 86 acres of native forest. The owners report more than 160 wildflower species, including orchids. Keep to the tracks and leave your discoveries growing.

You could also try: South West Eco Discoveries

At Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse in Augusta, a guided climb comes with maritime stories and sweeping views where the Indian and Southern Oceans meet. Leave time for the Interpretive Centre in an original lightkeeper’s cottage, too.

Further north, Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse offers another reason to put a lighthouse visit on the itinerary.

There’s something satisfying about seeing the coastline from above. Particularly when you can follow the sightseeing with coffee at Leeuwin Bean Cafe.

The Cape to Cape Track rewards a little legwork with a considerable amount of scenery. You don’t need to walk the whole thing to appreciate the coast, bushland and changing views.

Join Cape to Cape Explorer Tours for a guided experience, or explore self-guided options with Cape2Camp. South West Driving Services can help with getting to and from the track.

Choose a route that suits your fitness, check conditions and carry water. Deciding where to have lunch afterwards is an equally worthwhile planning exercise.

Some people like their time on the water quiet. Others would prefer a jet ski.

Find your balance with Stand Up Surfing, explore with Margaret River Kayaks and Canoes, or join Dunsborough Jet Ski Tours for a guided adventure along the coast. No licence or previous experience is needed for the jet ski tours, and spring brings the possibility of spotting migrating whales along the way.

For something really unique why not learn to ride a Fliteboard electric hydrofoil with eFoil Away.

Sometimes the holiday accommodation deserves more attention than simply checking whether it has enough beds.

Consider Private Properties, Bina Maya Yallingup Escape, Pullman Bunker Bay or Edge Luxury Villas for a special stay. At Samphire Chalets in Wonnerup, three adults-only retreats overlook paddocks beside the Vasse-Wonnerup Wetlands, with floor-to-ceiling windows making a persuasive case for breakfast in bed.

Add a private tour, a guided walk or a scenic flight if you’re making an occasion of it. Or stay put and enjoy what you’ve booked.

Also try: Scenic Helicopters, A Touch of Glass or Walk into Luxury.

There’s more to wine country than moving from one tasting bench to the next, although that is a highlight.

Whicher Ridge Wines brings aromas and flavours to life in its Wine Sensory Garden, while Rivendell Winery Estate adds garden wandering to your winery visit.

At Passel Estate, the Nature & Wine Walk returns for spring, combining wine tasting with a guided visit through its bushland conservation sanctuary. Learn about the habitat supporting western ringtail possums as you explore.

Wine, fresh air and something interesting to learn. A strong combination.

For a different view of the countryside, swap your walking shoes for a saddle.

Jesters Flat and The Horse Resort offer horse riding experiences, with options to suit different levels of confidence and experience. Tell the team what you’ve done before and let them help choose the right outing.

Previous enthusiasm for horse films does not necessarily count. But a willingness to try something new is an excellent place to start.

Spring occasionally forgets it’s meant to be improving the weather. Fortunately, there’s plenty to explore beneath the surface.

The region’s show caves offer limestone chambers, extraordinary formations and a useful reminder of just how much history sits beneath your feet. Mammoth Cave adds ancient megafauna fossils and a forest walk to the experience.

Choose the cave that suits your interests and mobility. The sightseeing continues even when the forecast changes its mind.

Plan your visit: Find out which cave is best for you.

For those who prefer handlebars to hiking poles, spring is a good excuse to explore the region on two wheels.

On Track Mountain Biking offers guided rides and instruction, helping you find trails suited to your skills and confidence. The Hairy Marron is another useful stop for bike hire and coffee.

Bike Shed Dunsborough and Life Cycle Bikes Margaret River can also help get you rolling. Start with a ride that suits you; heroic ambitions can wait until after the first hill.

A local guide can answer the questions you didn’t know to ask. What’s flowering? Where does that track lead? And where should you go for lunch?

The region’s tour operators bring knowledge, stories and a much better sense of direction to the outing. Whether you’re interested in wine, wildlife, culture or the coast, there’s someone who spends their days exploring it.

Choose an experience that follows your curiosity and let a local take the lead and support the awesome operators who know the Margaret River Region and all its wonderful secret spots and amazing stories.

There’s a particular pleasure in watching the coast pass by while someone else handles the sailing.

Book an outing with Sailing Charters WA and settle in for a different view of the water. If you’d rather learn what all those ropes are doing, ask Adventure Sailing about its sailing courses.

Check the available experiences and conditions before you go. An afternoon under sail makes a very good alternative to another afternoon behind the wheel.

If you’ve spent enough time watching surfers and thinking “one day”, perhaps this is it.

Margaret River Surf School, Margaret River Surfing Academy and Yallingup Surf School offer ways to develop your skills with people who know the local conditions. Choose a lesson suited to your age and experience, then let the instructors handle the finer points.

Your first wave may be brief. You’ll probably discuss it for considerably longer.

A holiday is an excellent time to learn something you’ve been meaning to try. Particularly when the lesson involves food, wine or something lovely to take home.

Explore the experiences at Giniversity, Wildwood Valley, Clairault Streicker and Vasse Virgin, from cooking and wine blending to fragrant creations.

Check the current workshop calendar and book ahead. You may return with a new skill, a new interest or considerably more confidence discussing botanicals.

All useful souvenirs.

If a gentle forest wander sounds a little too gentle, there are other ways to spend time among the trees.

Forest Adventures and Next Level Monkey Business take the action above ground, while Margaret River Climbing Co offers adventures for those keen to tackle the region from a different angle.

You may discover that the family member who talks the biggest game is surprisingly attached to the practice course.

A holiday doesn’t need an elaborate agenda to be memorable. A jetty train ride, an animal feeding session or a wander around a farm can comfortably become the highlight.

Spend time at Busselton Jetty, meet the residents of Sunflowers Animal Farm or explore the farm experiences at Glenarty Road. For a quieter interlude, look into a session with Yoga and Therapy with Amber.

Sometimes the best thing on the itinerary is the bit you didn’t need to overthink.

Start with the people who spend their days helping visitors find something a little different, the Busselton and Margaret River Visitor Centres.

They can point you towards experiences such as Passel Estate’s nature and wine walks or Augusta River Tours, where the Blackwood River provides plenty of birdlife and the possibility of dolphin sightings. For an overnight change of pace, consider Willow Wood Eco Retreat’s adults-only glamping, or for a family affair Olio Bello’s lakeside glamping experience.

There’s plenty to discover beyond the familiar stops. A little local advice can save a considerable amount of scrolling.

The region’s creative side gives you plenty to explore between beach visits and winery bookings.

Visit Happs Pottery + Icon Honey, look into glassblowing at Melting Pot Studio, or combine art and wine at Vasse Felix and Leeuwin Estate. The Studio Gallery and Yallingup Galleries provide more reasons to browse.

Something for the wall makes a lovely holiday souvenir. Whether there’s room in the car is a separate conversation.

A Saturday at the Margaret River Farmers Market can begin with a modest shopping list and end with enough supplies for a small gathering.

Buy from local growers and producers, discover native ingredients with Bushtucker or Koomal Dreaming, or explore the dining experiences offered by Fervor.

Keep de’sendent, Miss Chow’s and Amato Vino on your food-and-wine itinerary, too. For a farm lunch further south, Glenarty Road makes a good case for giving the meal its own afternoon.

There’s something refreshing about spending a day together without remembering whose library book is overdue.

Take a river adventure with Bushtucker Tours, ride the Busselton Jetty Train or explore Mammoth Cave. Forest Adventures and Next Level Monkey Business offer options for families keen to get moving, and leave a little room for the inevitable snack stop.

A quick photo stop in the forest is a good start. Staying long enough to notice the birdlife, tiny flowers and changing light is even better.

Explore with Untamed Escapes, Margaret River Exposed or Margaret River Eco Adventures for a closer look at the landscape.

For an overnight forest experience, Jarrah Grove Forest Retreat offers private bush tracks straight from your accommodation. Leave time for a walk before breakfast. The kettle will still be there when you return.

Busselton Jetty has been part of the town’s story since 1865. These days, there are plenty of ways to get acquainted with it.

Walk out over Geographe Bay or take the solar-powered train, then explore the Underwater Observatory for a view of marine life beneath the surface. The Marine Discovery Centre adds interactive exploring to the outing.

Leave time for the foreshore afterwards. A little history, a little sea air and somewhere to eat makes a very agreeable day.

There’s an entire underwater itinerary waiting beneath the bay.

Explore diving options with Swan Dive, from the waters around Busselton Jetty to experiences for qualified divers. For snorkelling and boat outings, look into Oceania Experiences.

Tell the operator about your experience and choose an outing that suits your ability and the conditions.

Looking at the water from the beach is lovely. Getting a glimpse of what’s living beneath it gives you quite a different appreciation.

Wine country is considerably more enjoyable when nobody has to spend lunch counting their sips.

Book a winery tour or private driver and let someone else handle the route, parking and afternoon navigation. The region’s operators offer a range of styles, from sociable group outings to private charters.

Choose the experience that suits your plans. Then enjoy the scenery between stops instead of arguing with the navigation app.

Try: Margaret River Vintage Wine Tours, Wine for Dudes, Cape to Cape Wine Tours and Charters, Tannin Road, Margaret River Tours, Cheers Winery and Scenic Tours, Gold Star Charter, MYDRIVER or McLeod Tours.

Sometimes a holiday is really all about getting off the treadmill, taking a breather and allowing the mind and body to relax. Experiences like canoeing up the Margaret River, stand-up paddleboarding in a calm bay, or walking through the subterranean landscape of one of the region’s caves all create some form of zen. Join one of the many yoga classes available throughout the region, or enquire at your accommodation about organising a private session with a local instructor.

If you’re chasing some time to reflect and rejuvenate, try these experiences: Stand Up Surfing and Uniquely Balanced Sound Massage

At A Maze’n Margaret River, Yallingup Maze and Boranup Forest Maze, taking a wrong turn is part of the entertainment.

Choose your maze, agree on a strategy and see how long that agreement lasts. Allow time for the other activities available at your chosen stop, too.

An excellent spring outing for families, friends and anyone who claims to have an exceptional sense of direction.

Perhaps agree beforehand on who gets to say “I told you we should have turned left”.

Children tend to appreciate holiday planning most when it results in something they can climb, meet or investigate.

Discover Deadly introduces curious visitors to reptiles, while Forest Adventures and Next Level Monkey Business provide action among the trees. Wow Illusions offers a different sort of head-scratching entertainment.

Check age and participation requirements, then pick the activities that suit your crew.

The Margaret River Chocolate Company is another popular inclusion. We suspect the appeal needs very little explanation.

The region has plenty of residents who haven’t booked accommodation.

Meet animals at Sunflowers Animal Farm and Country Life Farm, learn about birds of prey at Capes Raptor Centre, or explore with South West Eco Discoveries. Discover Deadly adds reptiles to the list.

Follow each operator’s guidance and give wild animals their space. The best encounters allow everyone to carry on with their day.